At this past weekend’s UFC 148 event, onetime UFC title challenger Chad Mendes (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wanted nothing more than to erase the sting of a January loss to featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

It took all of 31 seconds to do exactly that, as Mendes dispatched of Cody McKenzie in violent fashion.

Following the result, UFC president Dana White promised to bring Mendes a top-level opponent in his next outing. For “Money,” the sooner the better. After all, another shot at the title is his only current goal.

“I’m ready to get in there and fight again whenever they tell me,” Mendes said. “Whoever put in front of me, hopefully I get back to that title shot as quick as possible.”

The loss to Aldo at UFC 142 was Mendes’ first as a professional fighter, and he admits the night still weighs heavy on his mind. But in a division that doesn’t currently boast a long line of willing and qualified contenders, Mendes said it was important to make a statement with his UFC 148 appearance.

After Mendes caught a McKenzie kick and blasted him with a bodyshot, White said the Team Alpha Male product accomplished his goal.

“Mendes is awesome,” White said. “This kid is nasty. Cody was definitely out of his league. … We need to get Mendes a better fight than that for his next fight. He looked incredible.”

For his next appearance, Mendes wasn’t prepared to call anyone out by name, but with a combined record of 7-1 during his time in the UFC and WEC, he’s certainly qualified to face anyone in the division. Of course, the fight he most wants is a rematch with Aldo, who stopped him with one second left on the clock in their previous contest.

And while he was finished with a spectacular knee strike and a barrage of pinpoint punches, you might be surprised to hear Mendes would approach a rematch in similar fashion.

“I think going into that fight (with Aldo), I was the most mentally and physically prepared I’ve ever been for a fight,” Mendes said. “We knew going into that fight that I wasn’t going to get every single takedown that I tried. That was the goal, to keep pushing it, where if I shot and didn’t get it, I’d shoot again. If I didn’t get that one, I’d shoot again.

“I think I did everything right except for getting kneed in the face. I would do everything the same. I looked at the mistake I made, and I saw what I did wrong. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again, but I would probably train and do everything exactly like I did before.”

Aldo was originally expected to face Erik Koch at this month’s UFC 149 event, but an injury forced him to withdraw, and White has since suggested that the delay could potentially allow another name to step in. While Mendes isn’t likely to take that slot without another win, there are a few interesting names available, including Chan Sung Jung, Ricardo Lamas and Cub Swanson, among others.

Some pundits have expressed interest in seeing Jung step into Koch’s role, but White has yet to commit to a move for Aldo’s next title defense. What it all means for Mendes remains to be seen, but he stands eager to face anyone that will get him closer to the title shot he so eagerly awaits.

And following Mendes’ impressive return to action, White seems happy to oblige.

“We want to set Mendes up with the best available opponent and get him back into title contention,” White said.

For complete coverage of UFC 148, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.com.

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